We'll always have Paris

Ryan, San Diego, CA — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:05:49 GMT

How did competitive eating become a "sport" worthy of tv coverage? I'm genuinely embarrassed to be an American when I see this. On another note, the Zakaria article was fantastic, but will anyone even listen? Why does this practical and reasonable approach get lost in the rest of the inane political banter? Couldn't this country produce one worthwhile Presidential candidate?

We'll always have Paris

Billy Peers, Fargo, ND — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:28:33 GMT

Goatse, the most obscene image ever displayed? Please. Goatse is -so- 90's. tubgirl is where it's at now. (Note: Do not blame me if you Google it. Seriously. Just... don't do it.)

We'll always have Paris

Ryan, San Diego, CA — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:11:55 GMT

The "They Call This a Consensus?" articles are great. Too bad they will get 0 coverage... I've been suspicious of the so-called facts of global warming for a while, and its nice to see facts versus opinions clouded in bullsh**. Personally, I am all for protecting our environment, but it is my opinion that the global warming debate will in the end be counter-productive. There are many pressing environmental issues, and if we continue to worry about only one (imagined) issue, what will happen to the rest? Likely, they will be forgotten. These articles are a MUST-READ, especially for Al Gore! P.S. If you think I'm a right-wing nutjob, you'd be wrong. More than likely, I'm more liberal than you are.

We'll always have Paris

Tim, Akroh Ohio — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:14:25 GMT

The Polar Clock makes for an interesting desktop backround!

We'll always have Paris

Sterling, Tallahassee FL — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:33:04 GMT

In the 100km ball drop video I thought it was funny how the guy inside driving the truck put on a helmet and yet the guy in the back of the truck wasn't wearing one at all. I think the ball followed the truck because of the spin put on it by the thrower. Otherwise it would have simply stayed put like it did just before it hit the ground. I think that's right according to Newton and all that. Yeah/Nay?

We'll always have Paris

AN, Los Angeles — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:12:08 GMT

Re the 100Km/H pitching machine, I don't think it was the spin on the ball that pulled it forward so much as the "draft" created by the speed of the truck. Race car drivers do it all the time, and so does rubbish on the freeway! My favorite part was the fact that the driver was all geared up in the racing suit and helmet, and the guy in the back was completely unprotected!

We'll always have Paris

Todd H. — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:54:59 GMT

It's kind of odd to watch that 100km baseball/truck movie- the driver suits up in full race gear, helmet, gloves, belted in and all, to get rolling at what comes to 62 miles per hour. Then to cap it off, they put a guy in the back of the truck just sitting there without any helmet or even a strap to hold him in. :)

We'll always have Paris

ladytechie Farmington NM — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:51:29 GMT

I am old enough to remember the first digital watches, and yes, the did affect our sense of time.... Before they came out it was "close enough" to say that it was 9:00 when in fact it was 8:58. As they became more popular it was showing off a bit to say 8:58. I even attended a conference once where all sessions started at say 5:47 rather than 5, the idea being for everyone to be more punctual. I'm inclined to believe that they have contributed to the over all sense of time speeding by... or else it's just that I AM old enough to remember when they came out!

We'll always have Paris

Howlin' Hobbit, Seattle, WA — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 05:05:31 GMT

Re: the 100km/h baseball demo. I think you missed an odd point in the video and I blogged about it here: http://www.howlinhobbit.com/sblog/index.php?entry=entry070605-215841

We'll always have Paris

Valerie, London, England — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 05:25:03 GMT

re: mobile phones in the UK. They are near on like fasion accessories here and if the mobile user is on a contract, the user is entitled to a free upgrade yearly (assuming it is an annual contract). Many people have two mobile phones, work and personal. Mobiles are so (relatively) cheap and so common place that I can definitely believe the figure regarding the number of mobiles that wind up in toilets.

We'll always have Paris

Day Dream Believer — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:56:00 GMT

i clicked 'thong action' and all i got was california museums. izz that correct

We'll always have Paris

Mike, Boise ID — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:56:52 GMT

Did you notice on the 100km/hr car and pitching machine the driver wore a helmet but the guy in the back of the pickup didn't?

We'll always have Paris

Michael, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:02:09 GMT

That goatse prank is priceless. I can't believe they put that on the news. I really hope that someone called in and complained, or at least explained what it was they were airing. I can just imagine that news anchors face once she found out what the alternative design really was. Love the blog, keep it up.

We'll always have Paris

Leslie, NM — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:17:55 GMT

I agree with Billy. Goatse isn't so shocking anymore. The first time someone jokingly sent me to Tubgirl though I had the image burned in my head for weeks. Ugh!

We'll always have Paris

Patrick, Chicago, IL — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:20:02 GMT

The reason the polar clock isn't useful isn't because we're stuck in the rut of our analog clock layout, it's that it has too much information. If it only displayed Hours/Minutes/Seconds it would be much easier to decipher.

We'll always have Paris

Michael, Halifax, Canada — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:21:23 GMT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19056376/ This link goes well with your BBC news goatse prank link. Maybe they should have used the goatse logo, at least then people wouldn't be having seizures.

We'll always have Paris

Emma Morrow — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:21:49 GMT

I have to wonder why Eric Alterman thought it was okay to get drunk before work? If he's being paid to report a media event, shouldn't his employers expect him to be sober and not getting into Drunken Altercations?

We'll always have Paris

Will Femia — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:41:44 GMT

Micheal, that is a crazy story but I feel like it's being reporting awkwardly. It was the animation on the Web site that caused the problem, not the actual logo. I think there are so many people out there who absolutely hate the logo they're more open to the idea that it's causing brain malfunction. Emma, it's funny that that didn't even occur to me. I should say, I don't think Eric was getting drunk, but the idea of drinking on the job has an odd fit in this case. I don't know if Eric was assigned to report on the event or just be there to socialize and get a feel for things. Since he's a columnist, not a reporter his role is a little less defined. While I could argue that drinking might cloud his brain, it's probably a better argument that a glass of wine could help warm him up socially to do some productive elbow rubbing and maybe make him feel less restrained about asking difficult questions.

We'll always have Paris

Will Femia — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:43:12 GMT

DayDream, the notes in the margin are about the museum, but the map should zoom to street level and switch to street view and show a woman getting into a car with her shirt riding up and her pants riding down and her thong hanging out.

We'll always have Paris

Steve, Bearden, AR — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:34:20 GMT

Did you notice how many liters of coke that Mexican family drinks? I'm surprised that German family can get by on $500 with all the alcohol spread out in front of them.

We'll always have Paris

DanE — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:30:54 GMT

Thx for helping me blow a good two hours looking at Google Street Eggs Will. I have to say that most are not that interesting, though that didn't stop me from cruising through the list. Much appreciation for FINALLY getting some coverage on the dissenters of Global Warming. Its unfortunate that so many people listen to the talking heads and not the scientists. Of course it doesn't help that the line between an environmental "cause" and the environmental science has become so blurred, enough that you run the risk of being black listed as a scientist for disagreeing with the status quo of the political and social agenda's. I wish there was an easier avenue for scientists to present their research to the public without having to run it through some kind of environmental PR firm. I'd hoped that the internet would allow this kind of free flow of information, but there is such a flow of all kinds of information from the web that everything is even more clouded then before....sigh. Also it was disheartening to discover how many Jennifer Annistons I weigh.

We'll always have Paris

kindjal, Carolina, Puerto Rico — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:17:37 GMT

To me, the issue of government agencies acquiring images from the public space is not the problem per se. It's the accessibility to such information when you are the subject and its purposes. Down here tens of thousands of secret dossiers were made by the local government AND by the feds for the sake of law enforcement. In reality it was for political reasons most of the subjects were doing completely legal activities.

We'll always have Paris

chris walker, houston texas — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:06:37 GMT

I'm not sure Lawrence Solomon or the Energy Probe Research Foundation are the most impartial of judges either... This blog and comments, report on Solomon's misrepresentation of the views of one of the scientists he claims is a "Denier".

http://www.desmogblog.com/national-post-ducks-correction-repeats-slander

Also, I think distinguishing between "Global Warming" and "Anthropogenic Climate Change" is an important and often overlooked element of this 'debate'. And while being told a vast number of people believe something is usually a good enough reason to question it for yourself, sometimes the science really is unimpeachable (plate tectonics, 9/11, the holocaust, evolution, and human-induced, CO2 caused global climate change) and those who would argue otherwise are trying to sell you something.

Speaking of which, did you see the op-ed by Sam Brownback in the nytimes last week on why he doesn't believe in evolution?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/opinion/31brownback.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fContributors
Basically he says he wouldn't let science get in the way of his religion. Just the sort of faith-based crazy that should be kept far far away from "the button".

EDIT BY WILL: This NY Times link may work if the one from Chris doesn't:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/opinion/31brownback.html?ex=1338264000&en=6ba429e1faddc2f0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

We'll always have Paris

Tom Stright — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:39:19 GMT

What the world eats is interesting. We are a Family of 5 and the 3 kids are teenagers. How are these families spending $200 and up a week on food? We eat well and don't spend more $450 a month... It's crazy

We'll always have Paris

G. Butler — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:46:20 GMT

House arrest for Hilton...what a crock.

We'll always have Paris

Geoffrey Culverhouse, Hanalei, Hawaii — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:58:34 GMT

What ever happened to the Declaration of Independence? We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.... !! Did somebody insert - except Paris Hilton because she is rich and famous !!!

We'll always have Paris

Russell in Maryland — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:53:28 GMT

Oligarchy is a form of government where most political power effectively rests with a small segment of society (typically the most powerful, whether by wealth, military strength, ruthlessness, or political influence). The word oligarchy is from the Greek for "few" and "rule". Some political theorists have argued that all societies are inevitably oligarchies no matter the supposed political system. -- from wikipedia

We'll always have Paris

bill honl, hammond oregon — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:18:09 GMT

looks like the goatse prank video is down. is it mirroered anywhere?

We'll always have Paris

Will Femia — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 05:18:52 GMT

Bill, Metacafe is always a good second place to look for videos. Here's the clip. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/636011/goatse_lives_on_via_london_olympics_logo/ The goatse logo comes up sooner, aroung 10 seconds in.

We'll always have Paris

Sean, NY — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:10:52 GMT

Just a quick (late) thought on the Hilton thing- I have been seeing this not as 'making an example' or the 'privileged rich' so much as a CYA move. As things deteriorate among these young (and not so young, Hilton's 26, what's she doing yelling 'mom!'?) celebrities sooner or later there will be deaths or suicides or god knows what else and the collective finger will turn to the judicial system that ignored the warning signs. This Judge is basically saying he won't be taking the blame for it and finally dropped the hammer, Hilton just happened to be there when it fell.

We'll always have Paris

aurora colo — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:35:44 GMT

........PARIS WHO.......??????